Controlled synthesis of 3D flower-like MgWO4:Eu3+ hierarchical structures and fluorescence enhancement through introduction of carbon dots

Abstract

3D flower-like MgWO₄:Eu³⁺ hierarchical structures were synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FTIR and PL. The results show that the as-prepared MgWO₄:Eu³⁺ samples have a tetragonal phase structure and possess a 3D flower-like hierarchical morphology. It is found that the Eu³⁺ doping concentration (more than 5%) has an obvious effect on the phase structure and the formation of a flower-like morphology, and MgWO₄:Eu³⁺ flowers are probably formed from many layered nanosheets. Moreover, the significantly enhanced fluorescence performance of MgWO₄:Eu³⁺ flowers by introducing carbon dots (CDs) is also studied. The PL emission intensities of CD/MgWO₄:Eu³⁺ composites increase fourfold compared to those of the corresponding MgWO₄:Eu³⁺ samples. The luminescence enhancement mechanism could be attributed to the energy transfer processes from the excited states of CDs to Eu³⁺ ions in the CD/MgWO₄:Eu³⁺ composites. The as-prepared highly fluorescent materials with hierarchical structures might have potential applications in fluorescent lamps, displays, sensors and so on.